An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire. From Greek: pertaining to Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. From Webster’s: something (such as a food, drink, or drug) that causes or increases sexual desire.
OK, with all that being said, what are the foods that are commonly referred to an an aphrodisiac? Truth of the matter is, there are many, but we have our top six, a few wine suggestions and a Gracie’s recipe using one of our chosen foods.
#1 – Figs – More so for their role in history and the belief that an open fig emulates the female sex organ. It has never been proven that figs increase sexual desire, but let us not forget the mention in the bible of Adam and Eve wearing fig leaves to cover their private parts. The ancient Greeks held them as sacred, associating them with love. Figs were also Cleopatra’s favorite fruit.
#2 – Oysters – Most people when asked to identify an aphrodisiac will pick oysters, due to its reputation for increasing sexual desire. What really happens with oysters is that they are high in zinc which helps increase libido and produce sperm. Interesting stuff, huh.
#3 – Avocado – I read a whole lot of “Top Aphrodisiac” stories and post in preparing this little piece and avocados, along with oysters and figs were the only three foods to appear in every article. From what I can tell the word avocado has its roots in ancient Aztec civilization and translates to testicle.
#4 Almonds – Another one that seemed to pop up on nearly everyone’s list, as almonds are high in vitamin E, magnesium and fiber. Legend has it that the aroma of almonds is said to arouse passion in females.
#5 Chocolate – It is no wonder that chocolate is a huge Valentine’s Day gift, when you consider that it contains a multitude of compounds that are natural aphrodisiacs. Anandamide, a chemical that is said to make people feel good and phenylethylamine (PEA) which releases dopamine in the brain and peaks during organism. PEA is often referred to as the “Love Chemical.” Go with dark chocolate, as it is said to promote relaxation.
#6 Artichokes – Not on a bunch or top aphrodisiac list, but it did make Yahoo’s and I love artichokes (see Gracie’s Artichoke recipe is below). According to Yahoo and Greek mythology, “when Zeus was visiting his bro Poseidon, he spied a lovely lass, Cynara, whom he scooped up and took to Olympus for godly trysts whenever his wife was away. But when Cynara grew homesick and tried to escape to the world of mortals, Zeus, incensed, transformed her into an artichoke.”
We could go on forever and coming up with a top six was no easy chore. Do an internet search for aphrodisiacs and you will be amazed and amused at the long list of foods that are said to help spice up everyone’s mood.
♥♥♥♥♥♥
OK, so what wine do we suggest for Valentine’s Day? I’m picking two Italian wines, a sparkling white and an Italian red, that is our favored wine for February.
Adami Prosecco di Valdobbiadene BrutBosco di Gica $19.99 – “Adami’s NV Prosecco Superiore Bosco di Gica emerges from the glass with mineral-infused white fruit, smoke and crushed rocks in an intense, serious style of Prosecco I find appealing. This is Lot 36 0. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2012. “ 91 PointsVinous / Antonio Galloni – CLICK HERE!
Zenato Amarone 2008 $66.99 (Hey it’s Valentine’s Day) – “Zenato is a reliable producer of quality Amarone, producing wines that always show personality and intensity. This delivers bold fruit and background tones of polished leather and dry tobacco. The mouthful is very bold and thick, boasting a playful touch of sweet spice.” 92 Points Wine Enthusiast – CLICK HERE!
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Gracie’s Stuffed Artichokes – From “7 Days of Italian Cooking”
Ingredients: 
- 4 medium artichokes
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil (more if needed)
- 1/2 cup fresh Italian parsley
- 2 or 3 chopped cloves of garlic
- 2 1/2 cups of seasoned Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
Take each artichoke and cut off the stem, so the base is flat. Remove the bottom most leaves and trim with a kitchen scissors the remaining, easy to get leaves. Cut off the top 1/2 inch of the artichoke. Wash the artichokes in cold water and spread open so they can accept the stuffing. Combine all your stuffing ingredients in a bowl and mix with the olive oil until you get a good consistency. With a spoon fill the center of the artichokes with the filling and spread some around the leaves.
Steam the stuffed artichokes by standing them on their base in about 2 inches of water in a pot and cover. Steam for about 30 minutes but check to make sure the leaves pull away easily from the artichoke. I always liked to put a little of the stuffing on the leaf as I ate the meaty end of the artichoke leaf. Sprinkle a bit of grated Parmesan over the top.
Related articles
